Enjoying the Bloom Farms x Uncrate Highlighter is easy: just bring the pen to your lips and breathe in. Creating the amber liquid inside is considerably more difficult.

It starts in Calaveras County, CA. Hit by a devastating fire in September 2015, it's there that Bloom Farms has been rebuilt from the ashes, and it's there that Adam, the brother of company founder Mike Ray, grows both Uncrate-selected strains that make up our CBD x Sativa blend — AC/DC and Jack Herer, respectively.

Started as a seedling, each plant takes roughly 3-4 months to mature. At harvest time, the plants are moved to a barn for drying. At the same time, a Procurement Manager grabs samples of the plants, which are then used to ensure quality via a process involving microextraction and independent testing. Once the go-ahead is given, the real extraction begins, using a CO2 process for both safety and efficiency.

In the end, the extractions are carefully blended for an ideal mix of CBDs known for their healing properties and the creativity associated with Sativa, then loaded into the cartridges which eventually find their way into our handsome PVD-coated black Highlighter and into your pocket.

Although founded in 1931, Viberg remains entirely family owned and operated, and is still making boots by hand in much the same way they did nearly 90 years ago. Using the best materials from across the globe — tacks from England, insoles from Spain, Vibram outsoles, Swiss hobnails, and leathers from U.S. and Italian tanneries — the company's skilled team performs more than 200 steps on each pair of boots that goes through its factory. Some snapshots of the Viberg x Uncrate Hiker Boot above.

In the town of Woburn, Massachusetts, just a short drive north of Boston, a small team of workers is busy hand-building quality turntables at the headquarters of U-Turn, one of the few American companies building such machines. It all starts with the blank plinth, and the mix of CNC-routing and hand-drilling used to make the holes required for assembly. Elsewhere in the factory, specialized teams work on creating the tonearms, motor assemblies, cue levers, and spindles. Nearly all the components that aren't made in-house are sourced from within the USA. The main assembly line puts all the various pieces together to create a finished whole, while still others work on testing each and every unit before it heads out the door. In all, the company has 20 different stations working at once, a process that allows them to offer 200 unique turntable configurations, and accommodate specialized designs like our just-announced collaboration.

Craftsmanship is a word that is often thrown around in an unmerited fashion to describe the quality of work performed on any number of products. That's not the case with bespoke knife workshop Join or Die. Every knife produced in the Richmond, Virginia shop is made by hand by a single craftsman - Brent Stubblefield. His specialty is wooden handle camp knives, so there was no better place for us to have our bourbon barrel knife commissioned. We visited Brent at his shop and documented the meticulous process of making one of our knives, from the forge to the sheath.

Nearly 70 years ago, Joseph Grado, then a watchmaker at Tiffany & Co., began making phono cartridges inside his home in Brooklyn. Seeing the potential to do more with his craft, Joseph closed the family fruit store and turned it into Grado Laboratories. The decision turned out to be an inspired one, as by 1959 he was awarded patents for the first Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge and went on to enjoy three decades as the leader in the business as vinyl records hit their heyday. But by the late 1980's, as more portable methods of enjoying music came in to be, Joseph retired and sold the business to his nephew, John (who began sweeping the floors of Grado Labs at age 12). That's when Grado Labs began putting more time into the development of their now-acclaimed line of stereo headphones. Each pair of Grado headphones is built by hand in the same Brooklyn-based lab that doubles as the Grado family home. Now considered to be the makers of the first true audiophile quality headphone line ever built, we naturally looked to Grado when releasing a pair of headphones to compliment our turntable.

Originally founded by David Rancourt, the Lewiston, Maine-based factory operated for over 40 years producing moccasins and other hand-sewn footwear for some of the best brands in the world, all under the direction of David and his eldest son Michael. But in 2008, the owners of the factory announced they'd be closing up shop. That's when Michael and his son Kyle Rancourt stepped in to purchase the entire operation back and put Rancourt & Co. under second and third generation ownership and direction. The family was kind enough to show us around the factory while working on the Rancourt x Uncrate Court Classic. Limited to 100 pairs, our sneaker is made by hand using the same techniques that started with David Rancourt a half-century ago.

Chris and Kirk Bray of NYC-based Billykirk believe in not only making things in America, but making them right, every time. While putting together each of the three bags found in the Billykirk x Uncrate Stopover Collection, we visited the Bray brothers at their design studio and workshop to get a first-hand look at the collaborative collection being made (by hand, of course), as well as spin a few records and throw a few darts. In a design and manufacturing studio full of sewing, stamping, and clamping machines that could easily be at home in a different era, it's hard not to appreciate the sheer amount of time, detail, and ever-so-hard-to-find craftsmanship that goes in to producing just one Billykirk bag.

Hiking boots were once only worn by avid outdoorsmen. Now, they're versatile enough to wear every day, whether you're tackling a trail or slippery pavement on the way to work. The Summit Hiking Boot is made using smooth full grain and vintage vegetable tanned leather that will age gracefully. Each pair also features molded rubber soles for solid footing on almost any surface. In addition, they're backed by Frye's commitment to quality, which dates back to 1863.

A tough hiking boot makes a world of difference, but during warm weather months, you need something lighter and breathable. Built with a carbon-washed textile upper and a moisture-wicking air mesh liner, Danner's Mountain 600 EnduroWeave was made to dominate the summer climate and terrain of the Pacific Northwest. The boots also combine a cushioning Vibram SPE midsole for maximum rebound on the trails and a Fuga outsole for the control you need when navigating wet and dry surfaces. Available in brown and black.

Thomas Callahan is the type of guy who could probably build you a car from scratch if you gave him enough time. Inside his one-man Brooklyn workshop, he builds custom bicycles, handmade knives, and other goods under the moniker of Horse Brand Co. We visited Thomas and his feline friend to document the making of our limited edition Uncrate Bison Horn Knife, and came away with some serious workspace envy.

Nestled in the small city of Molsheim, France is the place where one of the most advanced automobiles in the world comes to life. The sequel to the 268 mph Veyron, the Chiron is even more complex, requiring over 1,800 individual parts to build. In charge of assembling them is a team of just 20 people, who get to work in a special space at the company's headquarters.

Dubbed the "Atelier" and shaped like the company logo, it offers more than 1,000 square metres of pristine work space, with glossy white flooring and a striking design worthy of such an exclusive creation. 12 stations take the car from powertrain to fully-realized supercar, with only one electronic tool in use — a system that lets you know a nut has been tightened with the proper torque.

Once the monocoque and the rear end have been joined, the fluids filled, and the wheels installed, the car is rolled over to the rolling dynamometer. It's all-new for the Chiron, as the old one couldn't handle the increased horsepower, and sits in its own room, with its own ventilation system for vehicle cooling and pollution control. After that, it's time for installation of the bespoke interior and a test drive.

Before delivery, each car undergoes a cosmetic preparation that takes two days, then heads to the light tunnel. Inside, it's given an intense, detailed inspection that takes more than six hours. If it passes that inspection, it's presented before a team of executives who give final approval before handing the keys over to the owner. With a total production time of roughly two months, it's clear that the Chiron is a work of painstaking craftsmanship and engineering, and one of the few cars in the world to truly earn the title "super".

When you give a product a lifetime guarantee, you're showing a lot of confidence in how it's built. Such is the case with the Filson Original Briefcase. Added to the company's lineup in 1990 — a relatively new addition, considering they've been in business since 1897 — it's become an everyday essential for countless customers, from laptop-toting creatives to rugged outdoorsmen.

The process starts with the cutting of its rugged twill fabric body and North American bridle leather details. These materials help the bag hold up to years of use and abuse, as does the sewing, which is done inside out so that the interior receives the same amount of care as the exterior. In all, it takes over 70 steps to complete one of these dependable bags, each one done by hand to ensure quality. If you'd like to see the process for yourself, visit the first floor of the company's new Flagship store, housed in their headquarters at 1741 1st Ave S in Seattle, Washington.

While every Filson product is made with outstanding quality and rugged materials, some bags lead a much tougher life than others. That's why each piece is backed by a lifetime guarantee. For those bags that were loved a little too hard but can still be salvaged, they get a new life at the Filson Restoration Department. Located in their Seattle Flagship store, they begin with the deconstruction process, removing every seam and salvaging every piece of leather. But these bags aren't exactly brought back to their former glory. The patches and stitches used to salvage each bag are purposefully made to stand out, keeping intact the story of the bag's previous life while making it functional once again. Once they're reassembled, they're re-waxed and re-conditioned before being resold with the same lifetime warranty as the company's brand-new offerings. As a result, each one is just as unique as the person carrying it, and like their former owners, each has its own stories to tell.

Each and every Leather Head ball and mitt is handmade in a cramped workshop in Glen Rock, New Jersey. The workspace is full of leather and nostalgia. And it smells absolutely wonderful. Starting as beautiful leather hides of all varieties and colors, the small company's footballs start as die cut leather panels, which are then sewn, inverted, and filled with a butyl rubber bladder. They're then simply finished up with hand-threading the rawhide lace. It's not a quick process, but Leather Head founder Paul Cunningham wouldn't have it any other way.

For our new Oak Street x Uncrate Bison Hunt Boots, we spent some long days in Maine, at both the tannery where our bison hides were transformed and the factory where our boots were made. Collected as a byproduct of the bison meat industry, our American shrunken bison leather arrives at the Tasman tannery raw and salted. It's rehydrated, cleaned, and sorted. During the tanning process, Tasman shrinks the grain of the leather using a proprietary formula to enhance the natural beauty of the hides. It's re-tanned with fat liquors and vegetable extracts, and then colored and put through an extensive finishing process. From rawhide to finished leather, it can take up to three weeks. We then delivered the hides to the factory, which is home to fewer than 40 workers. They took the bison leather, and using templates from our friends at Oak Street, crafted 100 pairs of the boots. Each boot passes through the hands of many workers during the process, of which none are sweeter than Rosie, who has stitched more moc toes than she cares to remember.

Since 1932, Danner has been proving that regardless of the economy or circumstances, superior craftsmanship matters. Long known for making work boots — the military, law enforcement, construction workers, and miners among their customers — the company also makes the best hiking boots you can find. Located along the Columbia River, the Danner factory is home to both new-age technology and old-world craftsmanship. Priding themselves in creating a product that's guaranteed to stand the test of time — no matter the activity — it is a place you can see first hand why they have stuck to their claim. Continuing their appreciation for the the Pacific Northwest, they launched the Stumptown Collection. With the entire collection crafted in Portland, they pay homage to explorers and adventurers with these American-heritage inspired silhouettes. It only then seemed fitting why we teamed up to create the Danner x Uncrate Mountain Light Boots to take with us on our travels. Shuffle through this gallery at the making of the boots, and see why you're not just buying a boot, but an investment in a company that has made the best product in their category for over 80 years.

Like their watches and leather goods, Shinola's bicycles are made in Detroit. Just not at the Argonaut building. Instead, they're made at the company's retail store, where you can gawk at the ongoing assembly right behind the cash registers. While not every component is USA-sourced, they are all high-quality. The frames and forks are handcrafted from US-made True Temper tubing in Waterford, Wisconsin, the leather saddles are handmade in-house, and the Shimano internal hubs are known for the reliability. In other words, they're built to last years, just like the rest of the company's products — with the main difference being that you have an open invitation to watch them being assembled any time you find yourself in the Motor City.

There are growlers, and then there are growlers — this iteration from RBT is the latter. Made of aluminum and stainless steel, this two-liter vessel has a double-wall insulated construction to keep the cold in and everything else out, complete with an ergonomically-designed handle for pouring and, well, handling. Available in satin-black with a contrasting brass base, this functional and sharp-looking container will stand out wherever you use it.

Don't let the desolate cold weather stop you from grilling a beautiful hunk of meat. The Finex cast iron grill pan is as great on the stovetop as it is on the campfire. The stars of the show are the BBQ-width raised ridges that sit atop the polished non-stick surface, giving you perfect cross-hatch grill marks on steaks and chops. The indestructible grill pan has a twin pair of quick-cool stainless steel spring handles and comes pre-seasoned with organic flaxseed oil.

While modern-day Shinola is best known for its watches, the company actually has a longer history with leather, having made shoe polish decades ago. Now the company is getting to know this lasting material once again. Using Horween leather tanned in Chicago, Shinola designs all their leather goods on site, and actually makes their own watch straps in a new 12,000-square-foot factory in the Argonaut building. In addition to bringing in a Louis Vuitton veteran to help train the 50+ new employees in the many steps it takes to create a single quality band, they're also looking to expand in the near future, allowing them to craft everything from briefcases and duffles to wallets, luggage tags, and even leather iPhone cases at the same place as their watches, right in downtown Detroit.

Manufacturing in Detroit has a rich history that predates Henry Ford's assembly line, and it's this heritage that lives on at Shinola. We decided we needed a closer look at the company's watch-making process, so we drove up to the Motor City to visit the Shinola watch factory. Housed on the fifth floor of the Argonaut Building — formerly known as the GM Research Lab — Shinola is bringing hand-powered watch making back to America one timepiece at a time. The workers hand-build each timepiece, meticulously seating and fitting together as many as 100 parts per watch — including the Detroit-built movement made with Swiss parts — until they meet the final, one-person quality test, creating lasting products that rival their European counterparts in quality but exhibit a strength that's unique to the place in which they're built. America. Detroit.

Early this year, just after we decided to do a collaboration with Harry's, the quirky startup taking on the shaving industry, the 9-month-old company did something rather stunning — they bought a 93-year-old razor factory in Germany for $100 million. Overnight, Harry's became the only company that can take in raw steel, and about a week later, deliver a finished razor to your doorstep. Gillette and Schick weren't laughing at the new kid on the block any longer.

Located in Eisfeld, on the old East-West Germany border, and about an hour north of Nuremberg, Harry's Feintechnik factory employs over 400 people. It operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, on a 3-shift schedule. So it's no surprise the factory produces over 1.2 billion blades every year. The day we visited, the entire factory had switched over to making the all-black Uncrate cartridges. The surprisingly secretive setup is a balanced mix of futuristic technology and old-world tools and know-how.

Whenever you start with grinding raw steel, your manufacturing process isn't going to be an easy one. It involves an endless list of steps, requires everyone from engineers to floor workers, and includes stations for everything from microscopes to packaging. The great thing about all of it is that Harry's is committed to delivering a high-quality shaving line at a great price. They're not looking for ways to add a lubricating, vibrating, spinning sprocket to their razors.

Above are select shots from our trip to Harry's Feintechnik factory, featuring our all-black blade cartridges. Our thanks to the team working on that hot day. They were friendly and helpful. Even with a looming USA vs. Germany World Cup match.

For as futuristic as their products are — in both design and material — it might surprise you to discover that much of what goes on inside the walls of Oakley's massive, steampunk-ish Foothill Ranch headquarters is grounded in analog techniques. From the initial design all the way through engineering, there's nary a computer involved. And as with everything else at the headquarters, that's by design.

Oakley's shades, bags, watches, and other goods begin life as conceptual designs, based around innovation and consumer needs. These designs are created by small teams, who work together to make drawings of the product as they vision it, often times coming eerily close to the finished version. Engineers are brought in to add their thoughts to the designs, and make sure they're functional — an important step for any product, but especially one that's going on your body.

Once everyone's happy with the initial design, it's turned into a real-life object using old-school tools like Exacto knives, scrapers, and chisels. It is then redesigned and approved by the engineers. From there, they go to CAD files, and are often cranked out on 3D printers — Oakley has been using them for over two decades, making them one of the first companies to use the technology — before being prototyped.

And while the company keeps a vast portion of its talent under the same roof — including R&D, advertising, marketing, and publicity — the design section of the building is off-limits to all but a select few. You have to be escorted in if you don't have access, and even then, some areas — like Oakley veteran Peter Yee's secret war room, where out of the box ideas and futuristic visions are the norm and where many of the company's most iconic designs were born — are limited even further.

So the next time you strap on an Oakley product that looks like it's from the future, remember that it was created with tools firmly rooted in the past.